Murkowski, Young Express Concerns Over New EPA Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, wrote to President Obama to express their concerns over new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants.

The EPA is reportedly scheduled to release the new regulations by Friday. Such rules would disproportionately affect fossil fuel-based electricity plants, which have been and remain the foundation for stable and low-cost power generation in America.

“There has already been significant progress in energy efficiency for buildings, vehicle mileage standards, efficiency in power distribution, and power plant technologies throughout the United States,” Murkowski and Young wrote. “While we should continue working to reduce emissions, doing so in a way that denies the opportunity for incremental improvements and technological innovations over time is unreasonable. America is what it is today because of such innovations, many of which were supported by federal research and development, not forced into existence by regulation.”

Murkowski and Young are concerned that consumers and manufacturers will suffer as a result of these regulations. EPA’s climate regulations could increase the cost of doing business in the United States and, in turn, raise prices for consumers while decreasing employment opportunities, as entire industries look abroad for cheaper energy.

“The Clean Air Act was written by Congress to regulate criteria pollutants, not greenhouse gases, and its implementation remains subject to oversight and guidance from elected representatives,” Murkowski and Young wrote. “We should continue our work to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation, but in the meantime, we will not turn a blind eye to efforts to impose back-door climate regulations with no input from Congress.”

Murkowski and Young request that President Obama make an effort to work with Congress prior to imposing these new regulations.